"I thought we would be successful because of the quality of the park experience that we offer and that we are efficient with our operations and money management," Polivka said.

"But I also understand how people had to look at their own budgets, and we all are still feeling the pinch."

The fact that it was such a narrow margin early Wednesday morning and that he has 40 years of campaign experience behind him, Polivka said he knew that things could turn around.

"I know that our brand is good, and we could see how that appeared in the way people voted, even though it also demonstrated the concern and anxiety that many people have about the economy," Polivka said.